The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned two women before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged conspiracy and transmission of a false publication claiming that Access Bank Plc was set to shut down its operations.
The defendants, Idorenyin Samuel Umoh and Fineness Monday Esu, were arraigned on a three-count charge filed by the police prosecuting counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, of the Directorate of Legal Services, Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired with other persons currently at large to transmit a false publication through computer systems and networks concerning Access Bank.
The alleged publication, said to have been circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp on July 28, 2026, claimed that Access Bank would cease operations from September 23, 2026, and urged customers to close their accounts and withdraw their funds.
The police alleged that the publication was knowingly false and was made with the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, as well as creating fear and alarm among members of the public.
The charges were brought under provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the three counts were read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, Police prosecutor Nwafoaku urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
However, Cynthia Nwanpu, who appeared for the defendants on behalf of their counsel, Ifenna Okeke, urged the court to grant the defence a short date to enable them to file a formal bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Aluko adjourned the matter until November 25, 2026, for trial, while directing that the defendants’ bail application, once filed, be given expeditious hearing.
The case is registered as FHC/L/CR/773/2026.